Thai army insists Cambodia border actions not politically motivated

The Thai Army has rejected a report on a Facebook page alleging that Thailand had violated international law and used excessive force in the Thai-Cambodian border situation, claiming that the report lacked clear sources and contained distorted information inconsistent with facts on the ground.

Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, spokesperson for the Thai Army, added that the content, published by the New York Editorial on February 20, appeared to rely solely on information from the Cambodian side, which has frequently presented misleading information to the international community.

Winthai rejected said that, although Cambodia initiated the conflict, Thailand escalated it, causing severe damage, and that the border dispute was aimed at securing election victory in Bangkok.

He affirmed that the Royal Thai Army strictly adheres to international law and that military operations are conducted in accordance with the situation on the ground and established rules of engagement, constituting legitimate self-defence under the UN Charter.

He stressed that the operations are unrelated to any election objectives in Bangkok.

Winthai also addressed allegations that Thailand used excessive force by deploying F-16 fighter jets and conducting air strikes after a single Thai soldier was injured by a landmine.

He said the response was not triggered solely by the landmine incident, as Cambodian forces had initiated attacks, using heavy weapons, against Thai military personnel and civilian areas. They had also used civilian locations and community buildings for military operations, he claimed.

As a result, the Thai army requested F-16 air support and the strikes targeted only military objectives that posed threats to innocent civilians.

On the issue of Preah Vihear Temple, he said Cambodian forces deliberately used the historic site as a base from which heavy weapons were fired into Thailand. Therefore, Cambodia must bear responsibility for actions that contravene humanitarian law.

Regarding claims that the Thai government used the border situation as part of an electoral strategy, Winthai said the matter concerns all Thai people, directly or indirectly, and is not a political game being played by any particular party. He denied that the situation was used in political campaigning.